counselling Flashcards
what is the difference between personal and professional relationships?
personal-
- grow out of mutual attraction and common interests
- can be terminated due to personal interests
- communication skills are important
- intimate, support and care to both people
- more comfortable than stressful
professional-
- intimate, support and care is one way ONLY
- focuses on helping client achieve goals
- terminated when client achieves goals
- helper interested in client 100% of the time
- Not always comfortable and can be stressed
- clients see helpers as allies
Counselling is defined as
A limited timed relationship in which counsellors help clients increase their ability to deal with the demands of their changing life.
In counselling there are two types of goals they are:
short term
long term
what is the short term goal?
to provide assistance so that the person seeking help can gain some control over the problem.
what is the long term goal?
to help the client develop the ability to cope with the changing demands of their life.
When counselling clients, a counsellor can do the following:
- help clients with painful feelings
- teach new skills
- help develop problem solving skills
- mediate difficulties in relationships
- help clients identify and access resources
- help clients with making decisions and action plans
- support clients
Counsellors should never offer what? to clients
advise
what are the 4 phases of counselling?
- preliminary
- beginning
- action
- ending
what happens in the preliminary phase?
the preliminary phase is when the counsellor gets their info pertaining to client, emergency contacts, previous resources, determine how long they will see individual, and it’s important to remember this stage the counsellor has not met client.
what happens in the beginning phase?
the beginning phase is when the counsellor starts to develop a relationship with the client, in this stage the counsellor will probe more into the issue that brought the client in, and will use their active listening skills to develop trust.
what happens in the action phase?
the action phase is when the counsellor starts to introduce problem solving skills, role playing, provide goal setting, challenge client in their way of thinking, give new perspectives.
what happens in the ending phase?
the ending phase is when problems need to be solved or improved by certain date, develop back up plans, and contracting is done.
what are the four basic cluster skills?
- relationship building
- exploring and probing
- empowering skills
- challenging skills
In cluster 1: Relationship building there are five important things to watch for what are they?
- congruency
- empathy
- positive regard
- active listening
- contracting
define congruency
congruency is you being genuine and yourself. Your non verbals and verbals need to match.
define empathy
empathy is the process of accurately understanding the emotional perspective of another person and being able to communicate the understanding. Recognize the feeling and say it back
ex: How did that make you feel?
define positive regard
positive regard is respecting the person, not their behavior. You are able to separate actions from your feelings
define active listening
Active listening is hearing with thoughtful attention, it involves:
- hearing
- observing
- responding
define contracting
contracting is an agreement (verbal) putting ownership on the client. It should leave client with a task
ex: before next session your going to….. and we will revisit where you are then.
In cluster 2: exploring and probing, what are the seven important things to use when interviewing a client?
1: Directives- directing the flow of the conversation in order to get the client to where you need them to be.
ex: “ can you tell me more about…..”
2: Encouragers- using verbal and non verbal cues
ex: head nods, yes, uh huh
3: Self disclosure- time and place for this. Your experience, your situation is only appropriate for the client not to validate your own needs.
4: Humor- works well with an established relationship. Do not use sarcasm people who are vulnerable or their heads are messy will take it personally.
5: Open ended questions- Is an indirect question, fill in the blanks
ex: “so when this happens you feel….”
6: Responding to non verbal cue- Tone and body language
7: Transitions- Remember the 4 phases. Counselling sessions should only last 45-1 hour long, pay attention to time and don’t let session go on.
In cluster 3: Empowering Skills what are the five skills necessary for counsellors to use?
1: Strength identification- Focus on positives, their skills and strengths. Rely on previous resources that client has had
2: Teaching-Use role playing to teach, teach social skills, life skills, stress management.
3: Information Giving- Give client resources in the community
4: Supporting- Provide clients with support, give them strength and encouragement
5: Anxiety Management- Stress management techniques such as (breathing, going for walks, listening to relaxing music). If client is calm they are less likely to use negative behaviors again.
In cluster 4: Challenging Skills, what are the three skills a counsellor must use?
1: Confrontation- Telling someone how or what to think
2: Action planning- helping clients set goals, develop the steps for down the road and evaluate the outcomes
3: Power of Authority- Recognize that the client hold you in high regard and there is a power shift. The client recognizes that you are there to help them. DO NOT ABUSE POWER, IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU!
what are some characteristics of Empathy?
- you are not born with empathy it is something learned
- must be able to communicate the understanding to client
- caring and understanding of clients feelings
- communicates understanding, builds trust and helps make you credible to your clients
- you need to be comfortable with ALL emotions
- will teach clients to be able to identify and label feelings that are painful and overwhelming.
What are the three types of Empathy?
1: Invitational
2: Basic
3: Inferred
what is Invitational Empathy?
invitational empathy is inviting the client to talk more about their feelings, it normalizes the clients feelings which will make it easier for them to talk and accept. you can use a self disclosure here.
ex: “ How do you feel….” or “How does that make you feel when….”
What is Basic Empathy?
Basic empathy is when the helper mirrors what the client has said. you use labelling or summarizing here. It tells the client that I have heard you and I understand.
ex: “ That sounds overwhelming” or “ I can understand why you were so hurt”
What is inferred Empathy?
Inferred empathy is when the helper tried to identify the clients feelings based on their non verbals, themes and hints. Helper needs to be able to read non verbals and realize that is not matching to what is being said.
ex: “someone else this issue”
Empathy should not be used when?
- the client rejects it
- in problem solving
- misinterpreted by the client as control
ex: don’t tell me how to feel
What are the five key elements of Active Listening?
- Attending
- Respecting Silence
- Paraphrasing
- Summarizing
- Questions
Active listening is used to:
- defuse crisis situations
- help the client release frustrations , despair, anger
- help the client avoid becoming defensive
define attending?
Attending is used to describe the attention that the helper gives to their client. Helpers need to use encouraging statements, be present, interpret messages that are communicated non verbally, know boundaries
define respecting silence
People get quiet in conversations, we need to respect that they are communicating with us in their own way. They could be confused, not understanding the question, encountering hurt feelings, thinking.
define paraphrasing
Restating the issues in own words, it shows the client that you understand. Paraphrasing is a longer definition, focuses on immediate statements not an attempt to solve their problem.
define summarizing
Confirms understanding and is a way to organize complex data, it is a shorter version of the issue and more direct approach.
there are two types of summarizing what are they?
- Content
- Theme
what is content in relation to summarizing
Content focuses on what the client has said in condensed words, ore direct point
what is theme in relation to summarizing
Theme edits out unnecessary details in attempt to identify the key point.
There are four steps to summarizing, what are they?
1: Listen- Your task is to listen carefully to the verbal and non verbal messages that they provide (who,what,where,how, and why)
2: Identify- Your task is to make sense of all that has been said and heard
3: Verbalize- State your understanding of what the client has said in a summarized response.
4: Evaulate- Listen and watch for client response to your summary.
What are the three purposes in a counselling relationship?
1: Information gathering
2: Provides focus
3: Promotes Insight
What are the three main types of questions commonly used in interviewing?
1: Closed
2: Open
3: Indirect
Define a closed question
Closed questions can easily be answered in one word. It confirms facts, and can bring closure to an interview/ Typical closed questions start off with ( Can, Did, Are, Have, Is, Will, Would, Do).
ex: “ How do you feel today?”
“Do you speak French?”
“Are you pregnant?”
Define an open question
Open question are more difficult to answer with one word, these are preferred questions as it gives the client more room to go into details. Clients can go into any direction with these types of questions.
ex: “ How did you meet your partner?”
“What was your last memory of your dad?”
“When was the last time you cried?”
Define indirect question
Indirect question is more of a statement than question.
Indirect questions are a softer way of seeking into and feel less intimidating, lowers stress levels.
ex: “ I wonder if you believe that it’s possible to change”
How many question should be asked in a session?
six questions
What are the three areas you should focus on in an interview?
1: Affective area- how does the client feel about the problem?
2: Cognitive area- what does the client think about the problem?
3: Behavioral area- what has the client done about the problem?
Define Empowerment
The process of helping clients gain control, personal strength and abilities so they can take control of their demanding lives.
What are the four types of Empowerment
1: Confronting
2: Helping the clients think differently
3: Goal Setting
4: Action Planning
Define Confronting
Confronting is a way of directing clients attention to aspects of their personality or behavior that they might not have considered.
It is a tool to move clients to a higher level of understanding of themselves
It is used to address incongruencies between what was believed, harmful behavior, blaming behaviors and communication problems.
What are the two types of Confrontation
- Feedback confrontation
- Confrontation of incongruities
What are the five main types of thinking errors?
1: Distortion
2: Incomplete Analysis
3: Egocentricity of lack of Empathy
4: Rigidity
5: Self-Defening thoughts
Define Distortion
Distortion is when the mind exaggerates, people using this come to conclusions without thinking it through
Define Incomplete Analysis
Incomplete Analysis is failure to look at others point of view
Define Egocentricities of lack of Empathy
Egocentricities of lack of Empathy is when client fails to realize how their actions affect others. It is more intrusive
Define Rigidity
Rigidity is black/white way of thinking. It is when the client fails to be open or look at new ideas
Define Self-Defining thoughts
Self-Defining thoughts is rational thoughts about clients weaknesses. These types of thoughts lead to anxiety and leads clients to believe that they can’t and won’t. Inappropriate self talk.
ex: “ I’m a loser”.
Define Reframing
Reframing is a skill that helps clients modify their thinking by suggesting alternative interpretations or new meanings. Help them look from a different perspective.
ex: “ I wonder if the problem is about other people and your just a side piece of the issue between them?”
Define Goal Setting
Goal setting is a counselling process that helps clients define in precise, measurable terms what they hope to achieve. THIS IS YOUR TARGET
What are the two types of Goals?
1: Outcome Goals- something that the client hopes to achieve in getting counselling.
2: Process Goals- Concerned with process of counselling.
ex: “when will we talk again?” or “ Where would we meet?”
How many types of guidelines are used in effective goals?
four
What are the types of guidelines used in effective goals?
1: Concrete
2: measurable
3: Realistic
4: Owned
Define Action Planning
Action planning involves developing strategies to help clients get to where they want to go. It helps the client not engage in impulsive behaviors, it is brainstorming
* all steps needs to be used in order to hit goals*
How many steps are used in the action planning process?
four
What are the steps in action planning and what are their functions?
1: Identify Alternatives- Brainstorming
2: Choose an action strategy- Go through all options
3: Develop and Implement plans- Move into direction of final goal
4: Evaluate Outcomes- You use this at the beginning of each sessions. It is a recap of the previous plan.
ex: “How did that work out?”
